Note: Today's featured post comes from veteran blogger Scott Warner, who returns to us to share an important update about what's going on at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and what Canadian companies should be looking out for...
Buried in the FCC's 22 page Notice of Inquiry on implementation of the Child Safe View Act of 2007 last week, is the following very scary paragraph:
"11. Finally, we invite comment on whether we should examine blocking technology for video game players and/or video games. Video game players are not included among the devices specifically identified in Section 2(b)(2), and video games are not mentioned in the Senate Report and were not discussed in the Senate hearing on the Act.22 However, in light of the popularity of video games among children and concerns expressed regarding their content,23 we seek comment on whether we should examine methods of controlling access to video games in this proceeding.
22 We note that a bill currently being considered by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce would require warning labels on video games containing violent content. See http://www.thomas.gov/cgibin/query/z?c111:H.R.231.
23 Fifty percent of households with children ages 0 to 6 have a video game console, and 83 percent of households with children 8 to 18 have a video game console. See Roberts and Foehr, Trends in Media Use, supra n. 7."
Where is this headed? Who knows, but it could be the tip of the iceberg. Think, game producers having to label games for content similar to TV and hardware manufactures having to install content blocking technology similar to the "V Chip" . For more information on how the FCC has regulated both television content and TV manufacturers, visit http://www.fcc.gov/vchip/.
For more information contact Scott (sgwarner@gsblaw.com) or James Dunstan (jdunstan@gsblaw.com). See you guys at GDC!!
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